If you live anywhere in the United States, you have seen the Pure Michigan commercials with Tim Allen’s voiceover. When I was pregnant with Jeremiah (about 4 1/2 years ago now), with my hormones raging, every time I heard the theme song and his voice I broke down crying. Ok. I still do that even without being pregnant. Can you blame me?! I grew up in one of the most gorgeous states. Though while living there I was more annoyed by the tourists than the scenery around me. My mom always told me that one day I would realize what I had and wish I was back. Welp, that day has come. Thanks Mom…
Grand Rapids, MI, is still pretty, don’t get me wrong, but it simply can’t beat the freshness that northern Michigan holds. This is the real Pure Michigan. Where communities still rally together, and watch out for each others teenagers when they were driving up and down main street because that was the “only fun thing to do”. That and go to Wal-Mart. How droll.
Boating was a daily past time, and what you did on the weekends if not every day. Water was no more than 3 miles away no matter which direction you went. Deer were as common as squirrels, and you don’t feed the seagulls unless you wanted a reenactment of Hitchcock’s “The Birds”. Luckily, it’s still at my finger tips. With my mom and sister’s family living up there, I can visit whenever I want (or rather whenever I can, which isn’t anywhere near as much as I want. Anyone with a small business can certainly attest). The sunsets are bolder, the dark skies are sprinkled infinitely more with stars, the mosquitoes won’t quit until they suck you dry. Oh right, the mosquitos. At least that’s one thing I don’t have to deal with anywhere near as badly. I’m convinced that Noah misheard God when he said grab those two mosquitos. That’s MI talk. He meant grab them out of thin air and swat them on your thigh. Noah wasn’t from Michigan. God was.
Our love our family travels. This one is no exception.
Clyde’s is the best burger in the north. You have to cross the bridge to get to it, but it’s completely worth it. Greasy, cheesy, messy, everything you want in a burger. The “Big C” is 3/4lb… I tried it once. It wasn’t pretty, but it was delicious I tell you. Wash it down with a chocolate malt, a side of crunchy, flavorful onion rings, and you’ve got yourself a date. Maybe get a kids meal just so you can have some fun with the car box it comes in. Totally worth it. (Pictured here is my sisters family and us. I’m pretty sure we can make anything fun.) Plus, it’s a drive-in which just throws nostalgia in your face.
I’m trying to see the scenery with new eyes. Get a new perspective on it. Erase some of the noise and focus on what makes this place so perfect. It’s slow, it’s quiet, and it’s home.
Your trip begins at Michigan.org.
More travels to come…
–The Wife
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